The Redhead Project: Photographer travels U.S. capturing red heads

You've probably heard the pejorative terms carrot-top, ginger, spitfire and maybe even copperhead. But for photographer Keith Barraclough, those terms are the defining characteristic of his subjects.

Author:
Andie Judson

Published:01/23/18

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- You've probably heard the pejorative terms carrot-top, ginger, spitfire and maybe even copperhead. But for photographer Keith Barraclough, those terms are the defining characteristic of his subjects.

"They don't have to be models. They don't have to have any acting experience," said Barraclough.

Loading ...

"You can be three feet tall or 30 feet tall, three inches wide or 30 inches wide... or 50! It really doesn't matter and I think that's the beauty… all you need to be is a natural redhead."

Barraclough is traveling throughout the United States with his wife Kate photographing natural redheads.

The idea for the "personal project" came to Barraclough when he was on a professional shoot and photographed a young businessman with red hair.

"I was just taken with him," Barraclough said. "He had a presence about him."

Cue, The Redhead Project. Five years after snapping the redheaded businessman, the New York City photographer's project has taken him across the United States, photographing natural redheads in Charlotte, Boston, Savannah, Chicago, Austin, Miami, Houston and many more major cities.

Photos: The Red Head Project

(Portrait for The Redhead Project. Courtesy of Keith Barraclough)

1/26

(Portrait for The Redhead Project. Courtesy of Keith Barraclough)

2/26

(Portrait for The Redhead Project. Courtesy of Keith Barraclough)

3/26

(Portrait for The Redhead Project. Courtesy of Keith Barraclough)

4/26

(Portrait for The Redhead Project. Courtesy of Keith Barraclough)

5/26

(Portrait for The Redhead Project. Courtesy of Keith Barraclough)

6/26

(Portrait for The Redhead Project. Courtesy of Keith Barraclough)

7/26

(Portrait for The Redhead Project. Courtesy of Keith Barraclough)

8/26

(Portrait for The Redhead Project. Courtesy of Keith Barraclough)

9/26

(Portrait for The Redhead Project. Courtesy of Keith Barraclough)

10/26

(Portrait for The Redhead Project. Courtesy of Keith Barraclough)

11/26

(Portrait for The Redhead Project. Courtesy of Keith Barraclough)

12/26

(Portrait for The Redhead Project. Courtesy of Keith Barraclough)

13/26

(Portrait for The Redhead Project. Courtesy of Keith Barraclough)

14/26

(Portrait for The Redhead Project. Courtesy of Keith Barraclough)

15/26

(Portrait for The Redhead Project. Courtesy of Keith Barraclough)

16/26

(Portrait for The Redhead Project. Courtesy of Keith Barraclough)

17/26

(Portrait for The Redhead Project. Courtesy of Keith Barraclough)

18/26

(Portrait for The Redhead Project. Courtesy of Keith Barraclough)

19/26

(Portrait for The Redhead Project. Courtesy of Keith Barraclough)

20/26

(Portrait for The Redhead Project. Courtesy of Keith Barraclough)

21/26

(Portrait for The Redhead Project. Courtesy of Keith Barraclough)

22/26

(Portrait for The Redhead Project. Courtesy of Keith Barraclough)

23/26

(Portrait for The Redhead Project. Courtesy of Keith Barraclough)

24/26

(Portrait for The Redhead Project. Courtesy of Keith Barraclough)

25/26

(Portrait for The Redhead Project. Courtesy of Keith Barraclough)

26/26

But the project goes deeper than red hair. Barraclough's subjects have to go through detailed process in order to be selected to have their picture taken, free of charge, for the Redhead Project.

"We really want to show who these redheads are," Barraclough said. "They do that through five different categories of things that they have to bring with them."

From beekeeper costumes to sushi, Barraclough's models bring five different categories of things that make them tick.

"We do tell every redhead before we start, 'You've seen the images, you understand that it's not a normal photo shoot?'" Barraclough said.

"You collect albums, bring albums and we stack things on people's heads and we do quirky things with it," Barraclough said. "We've had people pour ketchup all over themselves, ranch dressing, ice cream all over their face. I find it fascinating and amazing that people will do what you ask them if they're involved in it and it's part of who they are."